Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a frequent complication of morbid obesity, but its severity varies greatly and thus there is a strong need to better define its natural history in these patients.

However, both groups showed quite similar obesity duration, since patients with presumably normal liver reported the onset of obesity at a significantly younger age than those with NAFLD.

The trunk/limb fat mass ratio increased according to liver disease severity, although the total body fat mass decreased.

The research team noted that the volume of subcutaneous adipocytes increased according to severity of liver disease but only in female patients.

Dr Bedossa's team concludes, "These results suggest that young adults are more prone to store fat in subcutaneous tissue and reach the threshold of bariatric surgery indication before their liver is damaged."